Mechanism for and method of handling yarns or the like



April 17, 1928; n 1,666,650

. E. F. HATHAWAY ET AL MECHANISM FOR AND METHOD OF HANDLING YARNS OR THE LIKE Filed M ay 51. y1924 Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR F. HATHAWAY, 0F WELLESLEY, AND WALTER BIXBY, OF DORCHESTER, MAS- SAG'IEIU'SET'IS,l ASSIGNORS '.LO SHAWMUT ENGINEERING COMPANY, 0F DORCHESTER,

MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS. Y k v MECHANISM For. AND METHOD or' .HANDLING YARNS on THE LIKE.

Application med may 31,

This Ainvention relates to mechanism for and al method of handling yarns or the like, being especially useful in connection with the manufacture of carpets or rugs of the Axminster or similar types, such as produced on moquette or other pile fabric looms, and provides a method and a simple and effective mechanism vfor carrying out the same and whereby the yarn spacing and holding means may be applied to yarns or the like to maintain them in their established pattern or other arrangement upon a spool or other support until they are to be further k manipulated. This application is a continuation as to certain commonsubject matter of our copending application, SerialNo. 543,589, tiled March 14, 1922, now Patent #1,512,928, dated October 28, v1924.

Iii the accompanying drawings disclosing one embodiment of our invention chosen foi-.purposes of illustration and illustrating one manner of practicing our nietliod,-

Fig. 1 is a plan viewvshowing a portion of a spooling machine and related mechanism embodying one form of our invention, portions of the upper presser'roll being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the mechanisni shown in Fig. 1; i

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the mechanism shown in Fig. 2; i

kFig. 4 is a detail view upon an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings We have illustrated one forni of our invention as vapplied to a well known type of spooling machine such, for example, as thatshown in the patent `to Hathaway and Lea #1,152 380, it beingunderstood that ourinvention is not limited to this or any particular construction of spooling machine nor in its broad aspects to a mechanical attachment to or vassociated with a spooling machine of any form or construction.

The illustrative forni of spooling machine shown includes the side frame members 1, 1 and the cross Support or member 2. Said side frame members carry suitable supports not necessary herein more fully to Show or describe for rotatably mounting a spool 3` and one or more frictioiior presser rolls 4 Jfor yieldably engaging the yarns as they are wound on to said spool. Said spool is adapt- 1924. l `serial Nu. 716,881.

ed toreceive winding ,movement in either direction at will-'or to be stopped, power being supplied iii any suitable manner as by oppositely drivenbelts (not shown) which ma be shipped respectively from the loose fpul cys 5 or 6 lto, the fast pulley 7 l(See Fig. 1). The spool 3 is preferably driven through suitable gearing' or other connections from the driving shaft whereon said pulleys are mounted and operatin the gear 3a l(Figs. 1 and 2) upon the Spool s aft.

The yarn strands 8, or sets of strands if twoor more be employed in a group, in the illustrated form of our invention, lead from ,the bobbin frame (not shown) on to said windingspool 3 Ypassing over a guide bar 9 carried by brackets projecting outwardly and upwardly from the cross member 2, see Figs-2 and 3. yIntermediate said guide -bar and the spool` the yarns pass betweenrthe upper portions ofthe pins, pegs, teeth or the like 10 =which, together with the crossr baror holder 11 in Whicht'hey are supported inzupright position, comprise the yarn guiding means or reed indicated. generallyv at 12.

'.Theyarnspreferably also pass over la. vsecj .peg or", pegs 4ofthe reed. As best seen 'inV Fig. l Leach peg with the exception of the central one,`or a few at each side of such central peg, includes a straight upper portion 10, an inclined. portion 10b below the Same, and a straight lower terminal or base portion'lOc (see Fig.v 2) substantially parallel with but-offset from the straight upper portion. Said pegs are o'set by increments varying progressively fromfthe center to the endofthe reed. As herein shown, the ofset of the .pegs lis outward toward the respective ends wherebyy a reed is provided having awider bottom than top portion, but it will .be understood that in certain instances, the

Y reed than its top portion.

The form of reed as shown is'adapted for use fwhere aser-ies of: yarns or Vthe like-"is placed upon a support such as Vthewinding lspool herein shown, which support is of a offset Yinay be in the reverse direction, that is, inwardly `romeach end toward. the center to provide a' narrower bottom portion for the different length than that of the? yarn sepaf rator, comb or endclvampwhich isV tobe positioned upon the yarn ends.l` In other words, the pitch of the yarnsupon the spool i s""d ill'ere nt' 'from and herein Yless 4than the pitchbetween 'the yarn receiving lportions ojt tliese'parating device. -Suchfdiderencein lengths between 'that of the ya-riiQ-holding space on the spool and in theV separator or y clamp is usefuhtor example, wheref'a plurality of spools is 'to be placed serially end to endv on a tube, trame foruseinm'wide' worin?? In such vcases it willibefunderstood that the spacing of the 'yarntubes of the tube 'fframe is 'uniform from end to endotthe latter, whereas thvereis ai gap or gapsl r between the lyarn series of the lseveral spools,

Y vdue tothe fact that the adjacent spoolfheads and pintles occupy a certain space.

But

placing Vthe yarn `ends in aV separator Vor clamp in which the interdental spaces are arranged to correspond with the spacing of the yarn tubes, inj accordance with ourinvention, this difficulty 'is overcome, andthe yarns may be properly presented and guided for passage'through'said tubes.v .The separating device ill 4b e'stseenin detail in Fig.' 4, comprisesthe separator, comb, spacerorbolderlt, tre- 'quently termed a yarn clamp or"ffyfarnfend v transfer guideL or aligning guide, preferfablyfformed1 of sheet metal, a-ndipre'senting' a series` 'of upright'teeth 15 illustratedv4 as of the'barbed tooth type which will 'retain the yarns'y positionedI` between them', preventing any unintentional displacement 'offtheyar'ns tronithe separator, spacer onho'lder* inV the direction lengthwise of theteeth' and transversely if the yarns without'fth'e necessity Vof anf'additional cap or vother yarn-retainer.

fiaidjcomb 14' isV supported( upon theimachine finsuch relation to the yarnsthat yafterthe latterhavebeen wound'upon'the spool relamov'emeiit'betweenthe comb'and the a'rns, Vliereinir'ifa substantially verticaldi- '-2 andtheyarns whereby the latter are guidlled'by the pegs and caused vto pass precisely intorthespaces between the teeth of the strated therein,l

comb. Said comb,.clamp or separator, as

illustrated, is positioned. below th'ertuft yarns at the poiiit"ivli'ere`they' leave the reed, Vand in such manner that when the yarns and comb are-'moved relatively lthe yarns areglllsed to pass accurately into the comb, uand, herein at an anglepasttlie barbs or. the teethl.;l Aoi cordingly saidjcomb holder 17 is provided Awith 'apluiia-lfity lof studs 18flwhich'fhave a slidingtit each in a vertical slot y'19in said `crossmember-"2 whereby a vertical movement otthejcomb holder and reed in unison is perinitted,v to..` bring the combint'ov the ldesired relation'to the'yarns.l

"For raising said partsfwe have hereinprovided"l cam levers v21'e'achpivotedb as at 22 upon the cross member 2 and interconnected bythe link '2,3 to which is lattached"siiitable Voperating means `such asjtheV transverse rods 124 eacl'l'` having a handle 25,V saidoperating means l being provided at 'either vor both V ends oi the machine as desired' Thelowenace 'o'tffthe comb` holder v17 5rests'uponsaid1cam Y leveisfwliich when moved by either operatingv V`r0d"24 'will *litt the-comb holderand together intoltlieV dotted lineipo'sitions 1. indicatedf'j'inFig. 3' and" iiipart' iIi FigL'Q.

"Sai dj eoin'b holder reed, are ""helid said lifted position as by" stop pins 26'; upon 'the' member 2fai`id againstwhich"the'camV levers restfjust after passing, theirvertical posi- Vtion'. t

Shifting of an operatingrod 24 by its handle in the 'opposite directionwill restore the canilevers to their original or .full line position as shown inthe figures, allowing 'the reed yand comb holder 17 to drop 'by In operation'tlie 'yarnsif'aref wound upon the spool, passing through the top and here'-V in thefnarrow part of tlieireed in uniformly spaced relation, andextending in substantially straight 'lines onto Vthey spool; asvindicated vby tulllinesin Eig. ,1, so that thereis no ydanger ofltheyarnsrunningolt tliejedge ot tbespfoolfduring theV winding operation.-

1 /Vhen sufiicient yarn has been wound Vonto` vthe spoolzand itis desired to applyf'tlic yarn separator for lcomb to maiiitain` them. 'in

Vproper relation,` said cfomb land the reed 'are ilo lifted, as bythe means described, to the dot- 1 -V tedlinepcsitionof `Figs. 3 and v4. vEachKV strand: orfsetofl strands, if the latter are employed in setsv of" t'wo or jmore, 'will' lirs't i have a relativa movement betweern the straight upper portions 'ofthe' teeth ofthe reed, will thenlbe 'shiftedto vary their pitch vand to space them infconiormity with the yarnV receiving port-ion or spaces betweengthe teeth ot' the separator'or comb aiidvvill then v entereach aseparatespaceor yarn-receiving portion vin the" latter, as indicated .at 8*" by' the dotted lines in Figs. l and 4.` Said sepaj rater, comb or Clamp having the yarn ends in position-therein may then be Withdrawn from the holder and preferably will be atached to the spool by any suitable means. y

In some instances it is desirable to crosswind the yarns upon the spool. Preferably therefore we provide means for producing a relative reciprocation between the yarns and the spool in a direction axially of the latter during the winding` of the yarns. In the present form of our invention we have shown the cross member 2 as having a slidable support in suitable bearings 30 upon the side frame members 1, 1. Said cross member 2, which herein carries the reed 12, the comb 14, and associated parts seen in Fig. 2, may thus be moved longitudinally and substantially horizontally thereby to reciprocate the yarns relatively to the spool to cause them to be wound upon the spool at an angle.'

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for reciprocating said cross member 2, and

we have herein shown for that purpose, referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a bevel pinion 31 fast upon the yarn spool shaft and meshing with a bevel gear 32 at the upper end of a substantially vertical shaft `33, see 2, supported in suitable bearings upon the machine frame. Said bevel pinion 31 and bevel gear 32 may be of any desired ratio but are represented as respectively 1 to 2 whereby one complete reciprocation will be imparted to the cross member 2 for each two turns of the spool.

At its opposite or lower end said vertical .shaft 33 is operatively connected to a short horizontal shaft 34 through meshing bevel pinions 35. Said horizontal shaft is rotatably supported upon the machine frame and has fixed upon its forward end a crank plate having upon its outer face a slot 37 in which is adjustably positioned a crank pin 38. Pivotally supported upon said crank pin is one end of a link 39, the opposite end of which is pivoted as at 40 upon the cross member 2. Preferably a clutch .d1-is provided having an operating member 42 and by means of which the crank plate and associated reciprocating mechanism may be thrown optionally into or out of operation.

When the cross winding mechanism is not to be employed the cross member 2 may be locked in normal position for straight winding by suitable mechanism, such as the latch 4-3, see F ig. 2, pivoted upon the machine frame and engageable with a notch in the periphery of the crank plate, in which position it is retained as by the spring 44. During operation of the cross wii'idingmechanism .said latch may be swung downand across center against the stop 45, in which position also it will be held by said spring.

It will be understood that any desired type ofv cross winding `may be provided by varying the ratio vbetween the speed of rotation of the spool and of the reciprocatory movement imparted to the cross member 2. By the mechanism shown the y rns will be wound in double looped form, somewhat in the manner of a ligure 8. The eXtent of the reciprocation and consequently also the angle or extent of the cross winding may be regulated by adjusting the throw of the link 39, the crank pin 38 being shifted for this purpose in the slot 37 of the crank plate.

From the-foregoing description it will be understood that our method of positioning a series of yarns or the like in a separator where such' separating means is of a length different from that of .the yarn support, and where therefore the pitch of the series of yarns differsfrom that of the yarn receiving portions of the separator, includes the steps of assembling the yarns in substantially parallel relation upon a .suitable support such as a spool, whether straight orl cross-wound thereon, or in providingfr such support or spool Awhereon the yarns have previously been positioned or wound, and subsequently'varying the pitch of the yarns by shifting them laterally, Youtwardly or inwardly as the case maybe, and in opposite directions from the central yarn ,or yarns of the series and by increments varying progressively from said center, and in finally positioning .the yarns so shifted, and whose` pitch has thus been made to conform to that of the yarn receiving portions of the separating means, in said separating means 'by relative movement between the same and the yarns.

Our invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiment thereof herein disclosed.

lVe claim: i

1. In combination, in mechanism foi winding tuft yarn spools in carpet manufacture, a spool support, a reed 'through which the yarns are adapted to pass to said spool, a portable yarn vseparating member, means to supportthe 'latter in upright position adjacent the reed, and means to move said separating member and said reedl in vunison and relatively to the yarns to apply said separating member thereto, said reed, during said movement, acting` to guide the yarns accurately for reception in said sepay rating member.

2. Mechanism for handlingr yarns or the like comprising in combination means for supporting a series of yarns, a portable separator with which the yarns are adapted to be engaged to hold them spaced, said separator having yarn receiving portions spaced differently than said yarns on the supporting means, means relatively to move said lll() yarns and separator toward each other to apply the separator to them, and means for shiftmg the yarns during said relative movement of approach of the yarns and sepa-l rator' to space themin conformity With said' lyarn receiving portions of the separator.

3. Mechanism for handling yarns or the likev comprising in combination means for supportinga series of yarns,.a portable sepa-v rator to be applied tothe yarnends,` said separator having yarn receiving portions spaced differently than said yarns on the supporting means, means for guiding the yarns to space them in conformity With said yarn receiving portions ofthe separator, and means for effecting relative movement between said yarn guiding -means and said separator on the one hand and said series ofV yarns on the. other, thereby to position the yarns in said yarn receiving portions of the separator. n Y V 4. Mechanism for handling yarns or the like comprising in combination a` spool Whereon the yarns are wound, a spacer for the yarns having teeth of a pitch differing from that of thewound on yarns, a reed vhaving deflected portions, and means for moving said yarn .spacery and reed in unison f to shift the yarn ends to conform their pitch to that of the yarn spacerl and to apply the ylatter to the shifted yarn ends. v 5. That method of preparing tuftA yarn spools preliminary to the placing of the yarns in the receivers .of a yarn carrier or tube frame which comprises Winding the series of yarns on the spool, with a given pitch, in increasing thepitch of the yarn ends by shifting them outwardlyV from the center of-the series and to progressively increasing extents, and in effecting the placing of the yarn ends so shifted 'in suitable yarn separating and holding means,rvvhere by they areproperly spaced for placing in the receivers of a yarn carrier or tube frame in which said receivers correspond in pitch to `that of the shifted yarn ends.

Vt. That method of effecting'the placing of'separating means for a supported series lof yarns` or the like wherethe longitudinal extent of the separating-means differs from the` transverse extent of the yarn seriesy which comprises assembling the yarns in sub- Y stantially parallel relation and with a certain pitch between them, and inf effecting the placingthereon of separating means for the individual yarns While varying the pitch of saidryarns to conform to that ofthe separating means.

7.111 mechanism for preparing-tuft yarn spools in carpet manufacture for reception by the yarn carriers or tubeV frames, the combination with spool holding means, means for turning the spool to wind on the yarns land means to produce relative movement be` -tvfeen the yarns and spool yaxially of the latter during the Winding, of yarn guiding and separatingmeans including a reed hav- 1 y i -L' mg teeth of avgiven spacing at one poi lon one of their end portions of a given andY substantially uniform spacing to guide the yarns during Vsaid longitudinal? movement thereof, and being laterally offset or inclined at their. portions adjoining said end portions and to progressively varying extents lengtlr Wise the reed, means to `shift theA reed lonl gitudinally thereof tov effect cross movement of the yarns during their longitudinal movement, and means to shift said reed inJthe direction ofits teeth to bring said offsetV or inclined portions thereof between the yarns thereby to vary the yarn spacing.v l

9. ln mechanism for handling'a series of yarns or the like, in combination -With means for moving the yarns longitudinally, a reed having teeth spaced differently at different portions of their length, said teetlrhaving one of their end portions of agivcn and substantially uniform vspacing to guide the yarns during said longitudinal movement thereof, and being laterally offset or inclined at their portions adjoining: said end Iportions and to progressively varying'extents length-y wise the reed, and means to shift said reed in the direction of its teeth to bring saidoffset or inclined portions thereof between the yarns thereby to vary the yarn spacind. .l

10. In mechanism for-'handlinga series n of yarns or the like, in combination vvith vmeans for moving they yarns longitudinally, a reed, a. movable supporttherefonimeans to move said support lengthwise `the' reed to effect cross-movementof the yarns, a portable yarn spacer Von said support,'andmeans topmove said supportin the direction o f the reed teeth to guide the yarns into and'posi-` tion them in said yarn spacer. v i' ll. Mechanism for handling yarns or the like con'iprising in combination a spool, means to turn the spool to win d on the yarns, a spacer for the yarns having teethof a pitch differing fromthat of the ,Wound on yarns,

la reed having deflected portions, means to reciprocate saidjreed to produce cross-Winding of the yarns, and means for moving said spacer and reed in unison to shiftA the kyarn ends to Conform' their pitch to that of the spacer and to'apply the latter tothe shifted yarn ends. v

12. Mechanism for handlingl yarns orthe like comprising in combination a! spool, means to turn the spool to Wind, on' the yarns,

`means to effect crosswinding of the yarns,

lOl)

a spacer for the yarns havingv teeth of a pitch differing from that of the wound on yarns, a reed having deflected portions, and means for movingsaid spacer and reed in unison to shiftthe yarn ends to conform their pitch to that of the spacer and to apply the latter to the shifted yarn ends.

V13. Pattern setting mechanism for the tuft yarn spools of moquette and like pile fabric looms comprising in combination a spool, means to turn the spool7 a reed for guiding the yarns passing to the spool, means to effect relative reciprocatory movements between said reed and spool in a direction axially of the latter to produce cross-winding of the yarns, and mechanism for rendering said last named means optionally operative or inopeartive and at the latter time for locking said reed and spool against said relative axial movement.

14. In yarn spooling mechanism for the tuft yarns of moquette or other pile fabric looms the combination of a. spool, means to turn the same to wind on a series of yarns, guiding means to eect a given spacing of the yarn during winding,'a yarn spacer of a length diiering from that of the spool and having teeth correspondingly `differently spaced from the spacing of the Wound on yarns, and means for shifting the yarns to conform to the tooth spacing of said spacer.

15. In yarn spooling mechanism for the tuft yarns of moquette or other pile fabric looms the combination of a spool, means to turn the same t-o Wind on a series of yarns, guiding means to effect a given spacing of the yarn during winding, a yarn spacer of a length diering from that of the spool and having teeth correspondingly differently spaced from the spacing of the wound on yarns, and means for shift-ing the yarns to conform to the tooth spacing of said spacer and for applying the separator to the yarns in a single operation.

16. In yarn spooling mechanism for the tuft yarns of moquette or other pile fabric looms, in combination, a spool, means to support said spool for rotation, a reed to guide and space thewinding-on yarns, a. yarn end holder, and means to move said reed and said holder relatively to the yarns to apply the holder thereto.

17. In yarn spooling mechanism for the tuft yarns of moquette or other pile fabric looms, in combination, a spool, means to sup applying a yarn spacer to the yarns wherey the teeth of said spacer differ in pitch from that of the yarn on the spool, comprising, in combination with a spool support, a support for the spacer, a reed having its teeth spaced at one portion of their length to correspond with thatfof the yarn on the spool and deflected so as to correspond at another v Y portion of their length with the pitch of the teeth ofthe yarn spacer, and means relatively to move said reed and said spaceron the one hand and` the yarns on the other to apply the spacer to the yarns.

19. In a spooling machine for the tuft yarn spools of moquette or other pile fabric looms, means rotatably to support a spool to be wound, spool rotating mechanism,va.

reed for guiding the yarns onto the spool, automatic means to traverse said reed in opposite directions during the spooling operation to cross-Wind the yarns, means to render said traversing means operative or inoperative at will, and locking means to hold said reed and spool against relative axial movement when said traversing means is rendered inoperative.

20. In a spooling machine for the tuft yarn spools of moquette or other pile fabric looms, means rotatably to support a spool to be Wound, spool rotating mechanism, a reed for guiding the yarns onto the spool, a support for said reed reciprocable lengthwise the spool, and means to reciprocate said support during the spooling operation to crosswind the yarns, said means including a crank, driving connections therefor, a link operatively connecting said crank a-nd the reed support, and means for varying the. crank throw to adjust the reciprocatory movement given the reed.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification. 4

EDGAR F. HATHAWAY. WALTER BIXBY. 

